WORLD HUNGER
Are Plant Foods worse for Animals and the Environment?
In my local area I've been encountering quite a bit of pushback from people who claim that dependence on plant-based foods such as grains and seeds results in exacerbated land use and the collateral killing of many more animals than if we relied on pasture-raised livestock.
I did some calculations on land use efficiency using figures obtained by doing a Google search of Extension Offices and organic farmers:
Pasture-fed "beef" cows who can be raised on 1 acre per year:
----------------------------------------------------------
Number of acres needed to raise 1 "beef" cow/heifer = 2 (a very liberal estimate)
Pounds of meat obtained from 1 "beef" cow/heifer = 600
Calories per pound of meat = 800
Calories from meat per acre = 240,000 (800 x 600 / 2)
Sample combination of food crops that can be grown on 1 acre (divided equally) per year:
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5,000 lbs carrots AND 4,000 lbs potatoes AND 1,000 pounds wheat AND 4,000 lbs winter squash
Calorie value of those food crops:
carrots = 180 calories/lb = 900,000 calories per 0.25 acres
potatoes = 400 calories/lb = 1,600,000 calories per 0.25 acres
wheat = 1400 calories/lb = 1,400,000 calories per 0.25 acres
winter squash = 180 calories/lb = 720,000 calories per 0.25 acres
Total calories from food crops per acre = 4,620,000
Number of persons who could be fed in one year with one acre (assuming 2,100 calories per day):
With meat calories = 0.3 persons
With food crop calories = 6 persons
Land
use-efficiency of food crops over livestock = 19 times more efficient
I suppose the production of meat could be made more efficient by raising different animals instead of just "beef" cattle. Allowing for that, suppose we double the efficiency of producing meat. That still leaves plant-based food crops at about 10x the efficiency of meat production.
I did some calculations on land use efficiency using figures obtained by doing a Google search of Extension Offices and organic farmers:
Pasture-fed "beef" cows who can be raised on 1 acre per year:
----------------------------------------------------------
Number of acres needed to raise 1 "beef" cow/heifer = 2 (a very liberal estimate)
Pounds of meat obtained from 1 "beef" cow/heifer = 600
Calories per pound of meat = 800
Calories from meat per acre = 240,000 (800 x 600 / 2)
Sample combination of food crops that can be grown on 1 acre (divided equally) per year:
----------------------------------------------------------
5,000 lbs carrots AND 4,000 lbs potatoes AND 1,000 pounds wheat AND 4,000 lbs winter squash
Calorie value of those food crops:
carrots = 180 calories/lb = 900,000 calories per 0.25 acres
potatoes = 400 calories/lb = 1,600,000 calories per 0.25 acres
wheat = 1400 calories/lb = 1,400,000 calories per 0.25 acres
winter squash = 180 calories/lb = 720,000 calories per 0.25 acres
Total calories from food crops per acre = 4,620,000
Number of persons who could be fed in one year with one acre (assuming 2,100 calories per day):
With meat calories = 0.3 persons
With food crop calories = 6 persons
Land
use-efficiency of food crops over livestock = 19 times more efficient
I suppose the production of meat could be made more efficient by raising different animals instead of just "beef" cattle. Allowing for that, suppose we double the efficiency of producing meat. That still leaves plant-based food crops at about 10x the efficiency of meat production.
-Stephen Augustine
Via Christian Vegetarian Association
For example, researchers estimate that 2.5 acres of land can meet the food energy needs of twenty-two people eating potatoes, nineteen people eating corn, twenty-three people eating cabbage, fifteen people eating wheat, or two people eating chicken or dairy products, and only one person eating beef or eggs.
Dr. Will Tuttle, WORLD PEACE DIET
May all beings be free and at peace, Will
Food for life global (largest world hunger organization/PLANT BASED FOODS)
World hunger Diet change would ease food pressure
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/diet-change-would-ease-food-pressure-20111007-1ldaa.html
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/diet-change-would-ease-food-pressure-20111007-1ldaa.html
Animal People Online » EDITORIAL: Animal husbandry & the Horn of Africa faminehttp://www.animalpeoplenews.org/anp/2011/10/18/editorial-animal-husbandry-the-horn-of-africa-famine/
is actually a big cause of global hunger. Learn more here…
www.viva.org.uk/guides/feedtheworld.htm
www.viva.org.uk/guides/feedtheworld.htm
May all beings be free and at peace, Will
http://worldpeacediet.com - our daily VegInspiration For The Day http://circleofcompassion.org - our Prayer Circle For Animals Weekly Update http://worldpeacemastery.com - our new online self-paced WPD Facilitator Training
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